Centaur and NOSS payload observed

From: Ted Molczan (molczan@home.com)
Date: Sun Sep 09 2001 - 15:51:15 EDT


I have just received a report consistent with yesterday's Atlas 2AS launch,
from an observer who prefers not to be identified.

The following rough elset is for the Centaur:

USA 160 r       10.1  3.0  0.0  3.0 v
1 75025U          01252.43125000  .00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0    07
2 75025  63.4300 296.3000 0000001 180.0000 180.0000 13.42000000    06

Prediction times should be accurate to within several minutes, but it never
hurts to allow a larger margin.

The payload was trailing behind by a short distance.

I am using a search catalogue number, until a more accurate orbit has been
derived.

Already this launch differs from the 2nd generation NOSS, which lingered in a
270 x 670 km parking orbit for about 6 days, before manoeuvring to the NOSS
altitude.

Assuming that there are to be three NOSS sats, it will be interesting to see
how long their deployment will take.

Ted Molczan

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